Human Rights Poem by Jim Yerman

Soon after World War 2 was weathered
The United Nations got together…
and after hearing of the peoples plight
created a declaration…of human rights.

Appalled at all the lives we lost
and sickened by the Holocaust
The UN set about decreeing
A set of rights for human beings.

Every person has these rights they declared
In any location…anywhere.
Every human…from their inception
Every human…without exception.

Every human is endowed they said
with reason, a conscience and should use their head
and every person everywhere should
act in the spirit of brotherhood.

Since the UN declaration 70 years ago
We have made progress…but much too slow.
We have not learned from our mistakes
and now our existence is at stake!

We must treat each person with dignity
each as a member of our family.
For when we become kind humans we will find
one world…one family…one humankind.

Or 70 years from now
If we don't ensure everyone's human rights…somehow…
If we continue to live in a world where human rights are bereft…
there won't be any humans left.